Striblue
Who is your supplier for the Popper Bodies. ? do you have a stock number. ?
Fantatic work you have done on all the Poppers.
After I find out your souce for the matrials I would love to take a shot in trying to tie some.
Joe

Striper popper bodies are best made on livebody foam, look for the rigid type so that they are more durable particularly if you coat w/ epoxy which can crack if the body compresses. These come in a variety of shapes from cylindrical to cupfaced to snout-faced and can be tied in reverse to make sliders.

Most striperhounds will tell you that the best foam is found in modern lobster bouys, just fashion a coring tool out of thin wall pipe and plug out as many as you want.

Another brand comes with very hard bodies and a groove along the bottom side for placing the hook shaft into before glueing and finishing.

Cylindrical foam is usually bored out with a bodkin and the eye of the hook passed thru the hole with a wrap layer of thread and a drop of zap-a-gap on the shaft. Needless to say it's a one-shot deal but you get used to it.

In this case the quality of the hook makes a big difference - the eyes are sloppy on those common low cost northern european brands. I like the Tiemco 911s or the other Tiemco with the hump on the shank for placement in a cut or groove along the bottom of the banger body.

Good luck w/ poppers, they are a blast to tie and even more fun to fish!